Embedding cablelike members

ABSTRACT

Cable embedment with apparatus comprising a water bed contacting support assembly, an entrance guide having a longitudinal axis, a depressor extending generally along a continuation of the axis rearward of the entrance, a jet assembly extending beneath the depressor, and, connected to the jet assembly, a source of fluid under pressure for creating a jet flow at a flow rate sufficiently high and a pressure sufficiently low to temporarily liquify water bed soil in the path of the cable without substantial permanent soil displacement.



1. Apparatus for embedding a cablelike member under water, comprising a water bed contacting support assembly, an entrance guide having a longitudinal axis, a depressor extending generally along a continuation of said axis rearward of said entrance guide, a jet assembly extending beneath said depressor, and, connected to said jet assembly, a source of fluid under pressure for creating a jet flow at a flow rate sUfficiently high and a pressure sufficiently low to temporarily liquefy water bed soil in the path of said member without substantial permanent soil displacement, said flow rate being at least 300 gallons/minute and said pressure being no more than 300 p.s.i.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said support assembly comprises a pair of runners extending generally parallel to said axis and said entrance guide is a bellmouth.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said flow rate is at least 500 gallons/minute and said pressure is no more than 150 p.s.i.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said jet assembly includes nozzles having axes arranged to be oblique to the water bed during operation.
 5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said nozzle axes are arranged to be at 45* to said bed.
 6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said jet assembly includes a manifold pip extending beneath said depressor, and a pair of cable-guiding walls define with said depressor and said manifold pipe a passage for said member, said manifold pipe providing bottom protection for said member.
 7. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said nozzle axes are in a plane including said longitudinal axis.
 8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said depressor is supported between a pair of cable-guiding walls open at the top.
 9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said depressor is a curved plate supported in tracks mounted on said walls, and a chain and sprocket wheel are respectively secured to said depressor and said walls to facilitate removal of said depressor.
 10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said depressor extends below said support assembly by the desired depth of burial.
 11. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said sprocket wheel is mounted on a removable shaft between two plates providing said walls.
 12. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said entrance guide has a removable top to allow entrance of said member thereinto from above.
 13. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein an obstacle plate is obliquely secured below said guide.
 14. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said jet assembly includes a manifold pipe in which are mounted a plurality of replaceable nozzles.
 15. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein an attitude sensor is provided to monitor the orientation of said support assembly, thereby to determine whether burial to the desired depth is being accomplished.
 16. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said apparatus is towable from shore, and includes a separately floated and towed pump.
 17. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said support assembly comprises a pair of runners extending generally parallel to said axis and having sloping sides and a sloping front mud plate, said jet assembly includes a manifold connected to said runners by a support pipe also acting as a conduit to carry water to said manifold, said entrance guide is a bellmouth effectively supported by said runners and having a removable top, said depressor is a curved plate slidable between a pair of spaced plates parallel to said axis, said depressor and said manifold bounding a passage through which said member moves when said apparatus is in operation, said manifold being at 45* to said water bed, said depressor and said plates extending below said runners by the desired depth of burial, and an obstacle plate is obliquely mounted below said bellmouth, said bellmouth, plates, manifold, and runners being effectively mutually self-supporting, without independent framework to block entrance of said member into said device at an intermediate point of said member.
 18. Apparatus for embedding a cablelike member under water comprising a water bed contacting support assembly, an entrance guide having a longitudinal axis, a depressor extending generally along a continuation of said axis rearward of said entrance guide, a jet assembly including a manifold pipe extending beneath said depressor to provide bottom pRotection for said member, said depressor being supported between a pair of cable-guiding plates, said depressor, manifold pipe, and plates defining a passage for said member, said entrance guide having a removable top to allow entrance of said member thereinto from above, and, connected to said jet assembly, a source of fluid under pressure for creating a jet flow against said water bed to allow burial of said member. 